Teamsters, L.A. Workers and Community Leaders Protest BMW Scheme to Pocket Taxpayer Dollars and Destroy American Jobs

Longtime distribution facility workers ask BMW to stop running over America's working families

ONTARIO, Calif., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This morning BMW distribution workers, their families and community leaders rallied outside the gates at BMW's parts distribution facility. Rally leaders and BMW workers condemned BMW's plans to fire its nearly 100 Ontario employees later this summer and immediately re-open the facility the very next day with an inexperienced work force. The German automobile giant, Bavarian Motor Works AG, America's most popular automaker for luxury-class autos, booked its richest earnings in its 95-year history this year.

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"When taxpayers gave billions of dollars in bailout money to auto companies, they expected to grow the economy and save American jobs, but just the opposite has happened," said Randy Cammack, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42. "BMW got bailed out with nearly $4 billion in top-secret low-interest federal loans and in exchange, they mock America's laws and try to destroy working families."

"BMW would never be allowed to get away with this in Germany -- they wouldn't dare try it," said Teamsters Local 495 Secretary Treasurer Bob Lennox. "They think they can take an American taxpayer bailout and then treat their American workers in a way they would never treat their German employees, we're all here today to say not in California, and not in America."

Tim Kitchens, a 32-year worker at the warehouse, talked about the impact on his family.

"I need this job and the health insurance to take care of my family," Kitchens said. "Many of us have worked here for decades and have helped make BMW the most profitable luxury car company in America. We stood by them in the dark days of 2009 and now they're throwing us out on the street so they can hire inexperienced workers, and pocket the difference."

Following the protest, the workers and their families marched to Savage BMW of Ontario to educate BMW's customers about the auto manufacturer's plan to destroy American working families.

"Apparently once wasn't enough, BMW is now trying to gouge American taxpayers a second time around by putting hard-working families out on the unemployment line while enjoying the rich benefits of a nearly $4 billion bailout on the backs of American taxpayers," Lennox said.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 495